Tilia cordata (Small-leaved Lime, occasionally Small-leaved Linden or Little-leaf Linden) is a species of Tilia native to much of Europe from Britain, through central Scandinavia, to central Russia, and south to central Spain, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, the Caucasus, and western Asia. In the south of its range it is restricted to high altitudes.[2][3]

T. platyphyllos (left) and T. cordata leaf comparison

Contents

T. cordata is a deciduoustree growing to 20–40 m (60-80') tall, diameter 1/3 to 1/2 the height, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter. The bark is smooth and grayish when young, firm with vertical ridges and horizontal fissures when older. The crown is rounded in a formal oval shape to pyramidal. Branching is upright and increases in density with age.[4] The leaves are alternately arranged, rounded to triangular-ovate, 3–8 cm long and broad, mostly hairless (unlike the related Tilia platyphyllos) except for small tufts of brown hair in the leaf vein axils - the leaves are distinctively heart-shaped. The buds are alternate, pointed egg shaped and have red scales. It has no terminal bud.[4] The small yellow-green hermaphroditeflowers are produced in clusters of five to eleven in early summer with a leafy yellow-green subtending bract, have a rich, heavy scent; the trees are much visited by bees. The fruit is a dry nut-like drupe 6–7 mm long by 4 mm broad (infertile fruits are globose), downy at first becoming smooth at maturity, and (unlike T. platyphyllos) not ribbed.[2][5]

In Britain, T. cordata is considered an indicator of ancient woodland, and is becoming increasingly rare.[6] Owing to its rarity, a number of woods have been given SSSI status. Cocklode Wood, part of the Bardney Limewoods, is the best surviving spread of medieval small leaved limes in England.[7] Another site is Shrawley Wood in Worcestershire.[8] Small leaved lime was once regarded as holy and good for carving.[9] Tilia cordata is a genus in the family Tiliaceae. Tilia Cordata sprout strongly after cut, sprouts can develop from both cut and fallen stems in age over 200 years. Branches touching the ground may become rooted producing vertical shoots. Sprouts can develop from dormant buds located in the root collar of parent tree with root suckers found up to 5 meters away from the parent tree.[10]

Trees in northern Britain were found to have established when the climate was warmer and have adapted to the cooling climate. The trees were estimated to have germinated between 1150-1300 AD, making them around 800 years old. Precise age determination is impossible as heartwood at the centre disintegrates and therefore rings cannot be counted, and other methods are used.[11]

The tree is fairly disease resistant, though a common problem is leaf scorch where planted on dry soils, however leaf scorch is not a long term problem as the leaves are lost in the autumn. Pests include Japanese beetles, aphids, lace bugs and various species of moths.[12]

Tilia cordata is widely grown as an ornamental tree. It was much planted to form avenues in 17th and early 18th century landscape planning. A famous example is Unter den Linden in Berlin. It is also widely cultivated in North America as a substitute for the native Tilia americana (American linden or basswood) which has a larger leaf, coarser in texture; there it has been renamed "Little-leaf Linden". It is popular as both a shade tree with its dense canopy, an ornamental tree with its architectural shape and a street tree. In the USA, Tilia cordata has been planted in Wellesley, MA; Modesto, CA; Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, IN; and Atlanta, GA as street trees.[13] In Europe, there are espaliered trees owing to the ability to survive heavy pruning. Tilia cordata is an easy tree to train for bonsai when the training is not done all at once. Letting the tree recoup in between sessions over a period of several months creates a healthy, good looking miniature tree.[14]

T. cordata survives best in a soil pH range of 5.0 to 8.0.[15] USDA Hardiness Zone 3-7.[16] The tree prefers moist, well drained soil, but can survive flooding; it is not highly drought tolerant.[12] It does not do well in soils with high salinity.[17]

The Najevnik linden tree (Slovene: Najevska lipa), about 700 years old Tilia cordata, is the thickest tree in Slovenia. It is a place of cultural events, and every June a national meeting of Slovene politicians takes place under it.[18]

'Greenspire' - the most common, a cross between the cultivar 'Euclid' and a selection from the Boston Parks, broadly used as a street tree, survives better under difficult conditions, overall a good looking, quick growing tree.[16]

'June Bride'- significantly pyramidal habit, evenly spaced branches around a very straight central leader, glossier leaves, and 3 to 4 times as many flowers.[16]

'Winter Orange' - rich red-orange-brown stems with reddish buds, can be cut back to grow long shoot extensions. An extraordinarily colored cultivar.

Tiliae flos: Flowers (and impurities consisting of other parts) of the Small-leaved Lime as commonly used in linden flower tea

In the countries of Central and Western Europe, linden flowers are a traditional herbal remedy made into an herbal tea called 'Tilleul'[20] (linden flower tea), considered to be of value as an anti-inflammatory in a range of respiratory problems: colds, fever, flu, sore throat, bronchitis, and cough.[21] The tea is also said to be good for aiding indigestion, calming hysteria fits, vomiting, and palpitations.[20]